Suffering dog was ‘dragged through a store’ unresponsive. He needs a new home
A dog in Nevada is on the mend and learning to be more trusting after being in critical condition due to supposed heat stroke.
According to The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas, Animal Protection Services was called to a scene at a grocery store where a 5-year-old dog named Baby Gage was found unresponsive, where witnesses “saw him dragged through a store” and “left in critical condition,” the shelter said in a July 22 Facebook post.
Allison Ford, an employee for The Animal Foundation told McClatchy News, that Gage was left in the store during a smothering heat wave.
“A customer reported seeing him being dragged by his previous owner, though surveillance footage did not capture this directly, and the reporting party left before officers arrived,” the APS stated in its report, Ford said.
“What we can confirm is that when officers made contact, Baby Gage was lying on his side, not moving, and warm to the touch. His paw pads were raw and bleeding despite wearing booties, and he was showing signs consistent with heat stroke.”
Ford said the pup’s owner was unhoused and couldn’t afford the care needed to help Gage, so he made the decision to surrender his dog in order to get help.
“Today, Baby Gage is doing so much better — he’s made incredible progress and is slowly learning to trust again,” Ford said. “He still shows signs of timidity, but once he warms up, he’s affectionate, goofy, and truly a staff favorite.”
Gage is a lovable pup who enjoys toys and bully rubs, his pet profile says.
“He walks beautifully on leash and lights up with every bit of praise—tell him he’s a good boy, and you’ll make his whole day!” his profile describes. “Baby Gage thrives on encouragement, affection, and playtime, and he’s eager to find someone who’ll cheer him on as much as he’ll cheer up your life.”
Heatstroke signs in pets
Pets should not be outside during the summer for even a short amount of time or their body temperature may rise to 106 degrees and could go into multiple organ failure if it rises higher.
Signs of heatstroke in pets, per VCA Animal Hospitals, include:
Elevated breathing
Abnormal gum color
Sleepiness
Disorientation
Seizures
For more information on adoptable pets, visit the shelter’s website.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Suffering dog was ‘dragged through a store’ unresponsive. He needs a new home."